Diaphragm milk releaser



June 8, 1954 Filed July 15, 1950 H. w. HEIN DIAPHRAGM MILK RELEASER 3Shee'ts-Sheet l wfi/edeldibl: 2210M JUN/Zak June 8, 1954 w, HE|N2,680,411

DIAPHRAGM MILK RELEASER Filed July 15 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 8, 1954H..W. HEIN 2,680,411

DIAPHRAGM MILK RELEASER Filed July 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.5.

INVENTOR HAROLD w HEI N Patented. June 8, 1 954 DIAPHRAGM MILK RELEASERHarold W. Hein, Chicago, Ill., assignor to International HarvesterCompany, a corporation of New Jersey Application July 15, 1950, SerialNo. 174,031

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a releaser milker system. More specifically,the invention relates to a milk releaser especially adapted forconnection to a vacuum line which transports milk, the milk releaserbeing efiective for receiving and discharging milk simultaneously withthe operation of a milking system.

In the operation of pipe line milking installations, a milk receivingconduit is connected to a source of vacuum. The conduit is also incommunication with one or more milkers which milk the animals anddeliver the milk to the pipe line under vacuum. In order to release themilk from the vacuum line simultaneously with the operation of themilkers it is necessary to provide a releaser that will release the milkwithout disturbing, to an appreciable degree, the vacuum pressuresexisting within the line. The need for an effective milk releaser hasgiven rise to many different types of constructions, some of which havebeen found adequate in operation but too expensive to construct andmaintain. It is applicants prime object to provide an improved milkreleaser of a simplified construction, the

milk releaser operating in conjunction with a lease the milk anddischarge it from the diaphragm structure when a diaphragm is moved in amanner exerting a positive pressure within the structure.

A still further object is to provide a milker releaser including a pairof laterally spaced diaphragm structures, one of the structuresincluding valve mechanisms operable to regulate the inlet and dischargeof milk and the other diaphragm structure serving as a power actuatorfor operating the first diaphragm structure.

Still another object is to provide a diaphragm milk releaser, thereleaser being especially adapted for connection to the pipe system of amilking installation and also operable to release the milk from thesystemand to raise the milk discharged from the releaser to a higherlevel than the level of the pipe line.

Still another object is the provision of a diaphragm type of milkreleaser having first and second diaphragm chambers, the diaphragmchambers being separated by a third chamber sealed from the atmosphere,one of the diaphragms being movable with respect to the third chamber toprovide a pressure difierential within the third chamber with respect tothe second chamber during one stage of operation of said releaser.

Other important objects will become more apparent to those skilled inthe art as the disclosure is more fully made in the drawingsillustrating the invention.

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view through a milk releaser showing thereleaser connected to portions of a pipe line milking system.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in elevation through a diaphragm or actuatingmechanism taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view in elevation through a milk releaserdiaphragm, the view being taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view in elevation of a modified form of milkreleaser.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a valve arrangement, the view being takensubstantially along line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing a modified form of theinvention.

As best shown in Fig. 1, a milk releaser is generally indicated by thereference character Ill. The milk releaser Hi includes a frame H whichmay be suitably connected to a base l2. The frame H includes an uprightplate [3 which is provided, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with aplurality of laterally extending bolts I4 having threaded thereonspacers M which suitably space a diaphragm structure l5 which issupported by the bolts I4. The uppermost bolt I4, as best shown in Fig.1, also supports a bracket l6 which is rigidly secured to the structureI 5 by means of the nut [1.

The diaphragm structure l5 includes a casing l8 consisting of a pair ofdish-shaped plates I9 having their outer annular edges suitablyconnected by bolt and nut connections 20. The plates I9 are so disposedas to form a diaphragm chamber 2!. The diaphragm chamber 2| contains afirst diaphragm or flexible membrane 22 which has its outer peripheraledges rigidly secured between annular edges 23 and 24 of the plates l9.The membrane or first diaphragm 22 has a central portion securely heldbetween a pair of plates 25.

The bracket l6 suitably supports a vacuum pulsating mechanism 2-6. Thispulsating mechanism may be of a type as shown in the Floyd G. HodsdonPatent 1,844,853, patented February 9, 1932. The pulsating mechanism 26includes a pair of alternating vacuum and atmosphere conduits 27 and 28which are respectively connected to connections 29 and 30 communicatingwith the diaphragm chamber 2|. The connections 29 and 30 are disposed onthe casing l8 on opposite sides of the first diaphragm 22. A connectingrod or reciprocable member 31 is secured to the plates 25 by means of athreaded stud 32 which is secured to one of the plates 25 and isthreaded into one end of the rod 3 I. The connecting rod 3| is mountedfor reciprocation on abearing 33 suitably supported on the casing i8.

A diaphragm structure 34 is laterally positioned with respect to thediaphragm structure IS. The diaphragm structure 34 includes a casinggenerally designated at 35. The casing 35 includes a dished-shaped plate36 which securely holds the outer edges of a second diaphragm ormembrane 3'! by means of an annular edge 38. The second diaphragm 3'!has its outer edge securely compressed between the annular edge 38 andthe plate l3 by means of wing bolts 39, only one of which is shown. Thesecond diaphragm 31 forms with the dish-shaped plate 36 a diaphragmchamber 40. The plate I3 is provided with a centrally disposed opening45' which permits oscillation of the second diaphragm 37 with respect tothe plate 35.

The second diaphragm 3'! is securely connected to the connecting rod 3|by means of a threaded stud 4! which has an enlarged head 42 engaging aninner face of the diaphragm 31. The second diaphragm 3'! is securelyheld between the head 42 and a washer 43 by means of a nut 44. Aninternally threaded nut 55 is provided with a collar 45, the collar d8securely engaging a shoulder 41 of the connecting rod 34. As shown inFig. 1 th nut 45 is securely tightened on the threaded stud 4i topositively secure the comiecting rod 3| to the diaphragm 3'5.

The upper end of the plate 35 is provided with an inlet connection 43,the connection 43 being adapted to connect to a conduit 49 which is incommunication with the pipe line 55. The pipe line 50 is connected tomilking machines (not shown), the pipe line 55 containing a vacuumdepression and also receiving milk from the milking machines. The inletconnection 48 may be placed into communication with the chamber 45 bymeans of a valve plate having a plurality of openings 52. is suitablyconnected to the valve plate 5|, the valve 53 being arranged to openinwardly toward the chamber 40 during a vacuum depression within saidchamber.

An outlet connection 56 is disposed at the lower portion of the plate35. The outlet connection 54 is adapted to communicate with a conduit55;

A flexible membrane or valve 53 Figs. 4 and 5 is very similar to theabove described releaser. Figs. 4 and 5 disclose a releaser generallyindicated by the reference character 10. The releaser 10 comprises acasing H having a first diaphragm chamber 72 and a second diaphragmchamber 13. A third or intermediate chamber is designated at M.

The chamber 12 is provided with conduits 15 and 15 which like conduits29 and 3B are in communication with a pulsator by means of the conduits21 and 28. A first actuating diaphragm H is connected to a connectingrod Or reciprocable member it which is connected to a second diaphragml9 interposed between chambers 13 and 14. The chamber M is sealed fromthe atmosphere for a purpose which will appear from the ensuingoperation.

The chamber 13 is provided with a valve 80 which opens inwardly intosaid chamber during a vacuum depression therein. A valve BI ispositioned to open outwardly of the chamber 13 during a positivepressure in said chamber. The valves 86 and 81 are respectivelypositioned over openings 82 and 83.

The operation The pipe line 53 is under a vacuum depression, this linealso transporting milk from the milking machines (not shown). In orderto simultaneously discharge milk from the pipe line during the milkingoperation, the milk releaser it is set into operation. The power for thereleaser It is derived from the pulsating mechanism 25 which asindicated may be of the type shown in the Hodsdon patent abovementioned.

the conduit also forming part of a pipe line milking system (not shown).The conduit generally delivers milk as it is released in a normal stateof atmosphere to the proper containers which are provided for thatpurpose. As best shown by the reference character 56 the conduit 55 mayalso be positioned to deliver 'milk upwardly to a level which may behigher than'the point at which the milk leaves the milk releaser or thepipe line of the system. The outlet connection 54 includes a valve plate51 which is provided with openings 55 adapted to place said conduit 55in communication with the chamber 40. The valve plate has suitablyconnected thereto a flexible membrane or valve 59, this valve 59 beingpositioned to open outwardly from chamber 48 during a positive pressurewithin said chamber.

The modified form of the invention shown in The type of pulsatordisclosed in the above patent is generally connected to a suitablevacuum source. Reciprocating valves within the pulsator are actuated bythe vacuum source to provide for intermittent or alternating pulsationsof vacuum and atmosphere. As shown in Fig. 1 the conduits 21 and 25 arearranged to transmit the alternating vacuum and atmosphere pulsations tothe diaphragm chamber 2i by means of the connections 29 and 36. In thepositionof the first diaphragm 22 as shown in Fig. 1 the connection 30and the conduit 28 are in communication with the atmosphere by means ofsuitable valve elements (not shown) in the pulsator 26. The conduit 2'?at this stage is placed under a vacuum depression, causing the firstdiaphragm 22 to move to the right of the chamber 2|. This forces theconnecting rod or reciprocable member 3! to the right, therebycollapsing the second diaphragm 3? against the plate 55. Any liquidcontained within the chamber 46 at this point is, of course, dischargedthrough the openings 58 which are uncovered by the valve 59 by virtue ofthe pressure exerted, this valve moving or opening outwardly of thechamber 5i). During positive pressure within the chamber 10 the valve 53is maintained in a closed position tightly against the valve plate 5|.

After the membrane or first diaphragm 22 has moved to the right end ofthe chamber 2| the conduit 2? is immediately placed in communicationwith the atmosphere by means of the pulsating mechanism 25 and theconduit 28 is placed under a vacuum. Thus the first diaphragm 22 ismoved to the left end of the chamber 2|. As the first diaphragm 22 movesin this direction the second diaphragm 31 is moved to the position shownin Fig. 1. During this movement the valve 59 is tightly closed over theopenings 58 and a vacuum depression is provided within the chamber 49.

The depression within the chamber 49 which is created by movement of thesecond diaphragm 31 is greater than the depression which is presentwithin the pipe line 59 and pipe line 49. Thus as the second diaphragm31 is moved to the position disclosed, the valve 53, due to the pressuredifferential, is drawn inwardly toward the chamber 49 whereupon theopenings 52 are uncovered. This permits the in-fiow of milk into thechamber ii almost instantly filling this chamber. As the first diaphragm22 is again moved to the right of the chamber 2i the second diaphragm 31is pushed to its collapsed position against the plate 5'6. The milk inthe chamber 49 is thus pushed outwardly through the openings 58 into theconduit 55. Thus it can be seen a complete cycle of operation has beendescribed. It must, of course, be understood that pulsating mechanismsof the type indicated have a rapid operation and thus the diaphragmstructure [5 is effective to act as a power actuator for rapidlyoscillating the second diaphragm 31. By this rapid oscillation of thesecond diaphragm 31 it can be seen that large quantities of milk can bereleased from the pipe line system 56 and discharged through the conduit55. The force exerted by the diaphragm structure or power actuator I5 issurficient to raise the milk to a point much higher than the point atwhich the milk is discharged. An arrangement of this type can be seen bythe reference character 56 wherein the conduit 55 is so positioned as todirect the milk upwardly to a greater height.

The operation of the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is generallythe same as the operation of the releaser above described. Uponoscillation of the first diaphragm H and the connecting rod 78 thesecond diaphragm 19 is oscillated, thereby alternately filling chamber13 with milk and discharging the same from said chamber.

In the releaser 10 the chamber 14 is sealed from the atmosphere. Whenthe releaser is assembled,

however, the pressure within the chamber 14 will be the same asatmospheric pressure, care being taken that the first and seconddiaphragms l1 and 19 are in the position shown in Fig. 4 duringassembly. As the chamber 12, on the right side of the first diaphragm11, is subject to a vacuum depression, the second diaphragm 19 will moveto the right expelling milk in the chamber 13. As the second diaphragm19 is thus moved the pressure within chamber M decreases below theatmospheric pressure so that there is a pressure differential betweenchambers 14 and 13. The chamber i3 is thus provided with a higherpressure which will urge the diaphragm to return to the position shownin Fig. 4. This pressure differential then will assist the firstdiaphragm 11 in returning the diaphragm to its initial position when adepression takes place within the chamber 12 and the left face of thefirst diaphragm Tl. In other words, the pressure differential betweenchambers 13 and 14 will assist the first diaphragm 11 in returning bothdiaphragms to their position shown in Fig. 4. In effect it has beenfound that by this arrangement a smooth and more effective operationresults.

The releaser thus is particularly adapted to pipe line milking systemswhere a rapid and efiicient release of the milk is necessary. Theconstruction is inexpensive to manufacture and to maintain and theoperating cost is negligible since a pulsating mechanism may beutilized, the pulsating mechanism deriving its power from the vacuumsource which is normally used during the milking operation.

A positive releaser mechanism has thus been described and it can readilybe seen that the releaser parts may easily be washed by simplydisassembling the parts upon removal of the wing bolts 39. The poweractuator or diaphragm structure I5 is completely removed from thereleaser parts which require a high degree of sanitation. Thus thepossibility of contamination of the milk is clearly minimized.

It is believed that a novel, improved and practical milk releaser hasbeen described and disclosed. It must be understood, of course, thatchanges and modifications may be made which do not depart from thespirit of the invention as disclosed and from the scope thereof asdefined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A milk releaser comprising a casing having first and second diaphragmchambers, a sealed third chamber positioned between said first andsecond chambers, a first diaphragm positioned for oscillation withinsaid first chamber, a second diaphragm positioned for oscillationbetween said second chamber and said third chamber, a connecting rodconnecting said first and second diaphragms, means for oscillating saidfirst and second diaphragms including a vacuum operated pulsator havinga first connection communicating with the first diaphragm chamber on oneside of the diaphragm, a second connection from the pulsatorcommunicating with the first diaphragm chamber on an opposite side ofthe first diaphragm, said pulsator being arranged to provide foralternating vacuum and atmosphere pulsations within said first diaphragmchamber on opposite sides of said first diaphragm, thereby oscillatingthe first diaphragm to provide for reciprocation of the rod andoscillation of the second diaphragm to first and second positions, avalve means in communication with the second chamber to provide for theinflow of liquid to said chamber during a vacuum depression in saidsecond chamber during movement of said second diaphragm to the firstposition, a second valve means in communication with the second chamberto provide for the discharge of liquid from said chamber during pressurewithin said chamber upon movement of said second diaphragm to the secondposition, said sealed third chamber being normally under atmosphericpressure and having therein a vacuum depression during movement of thesecond diaphragm tothe second position, the pressure differentialbetween said second and third chambers being effective to urge saidsecond diaphragm to return to its first position in concert with theaction of said oscillating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 862,867 Eggleston Aug. 6, 1907 7 952,770 Thompson Mar. 22,1910 1,226,842 Anderson May 22, 1917 1,247,329 Ridd Nov. 20, 19171,529,918 Richards Mar. 17, 1925 1,995,611 I-Iapgood Mar. 26, 1935

